While summer means sandals and open-toed styles and fall & winter are synonymous with boots and booties, navigating your footwear between these seasons can be quite confusing. Those days and months from September through November (or in California and other warm-weather climates, sometimes even September through January) leave us torn between styles.

For when you’re not quite ready for full-on boot season, yet your sandals don’t quite work—or feel appropriate—try these 3 footwear trends to help you walk through the summer to fall transition with ease.

1. Stacked Heel Mule Booties

When you’re itching for boot season yet the idea of cramming your feet into boots and booties during sweltering heat makes you (well, sweat), enter the mule bootie. ✔️AKA the perfect fall-ready footwear to keep you cool. I love a backless bootie for both day and night and a stacked, low heel is my personal recommendation for everyday wear. I also think a mule bootie is great because there's no height on your ankle to mess with or worry about "to tuck or not to tuck." You can pair them with jeans in any length or style from ankle to regular to full and skinny, boyfriend or bootcut.

Try mule booties with shorts or skirts and sweaters for transitional wear, your favorite jeans topped with a tee and blazer to feel instantly put together or summer to fall dresses for something that feels effortless, easy and appropriate. This is a great way to give your summer wardrobe a fall spin and get the most wear out of your closet.

SHOP FALL MULE BOOTIES

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2. Fall Flats

If you're looking for the easiest way to swap out your summer sandals, try a slide! Whether you call them mules, slides or backless loafers, this is the perfect footwear trend to help you transition from summer to fall. The low or no-heel and backless feature means continual, cool, comfort and no break-in period or socks required. I adore a flat mule paired with my go-to jeans for something that feels effortless, chic and classic in an instant—and keeps you on your feet all day long.

A loafer is another closet must-have and I think investing in a pair that will last (think leather and cushioned soles) is a smart decision. Whether you want something buttery soft or with a bit more structure, a loafer is classic and timeless and will make your jeans or work pants look instantly chic. They also look great with dresses and tights.

Need a style that does double duty (both slide and loafer)? Try this Sam Edelman loafer which features a fold-down heel. ✔️✔️

SHOP FALL FLATS

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3. Fall Sneakers

When fall rolls around and you need a weekend-ready shoe, a sneaker is essential. Slip-on or lace-up sneakers have become my go-to paired with leggings, joggers and jeans and give off a cool, athleisure vibe. The great thing is they can take you from morning dog walks to drop-offs to errands—even happy hour.

Try them with a simple t-shirt dress and a denim jacket/cardigan combo, with a denim skirt and sweater or with comfy jogger pants and your favorite tee.

For the most bang for your buck, look for all-white, black or another fall-ready neutral hue like camel or tan. My personal preference is something that "matches" your skin tone, which helps keep a seamless, sleek look through the leg line.

SHOP FALL SNEAKERS

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All of these styles are perfect for those in-between days and will easily take you from summer to fall. And the bonus? They're perfect for the winter-to-spring, spring-to-summer transition, too!